Jan 18 Texas synagogue hostage-taker had stayed in area homeless shelters prior to attack By Jamie Stengle, Jake Bleiberg, Eric Tucker, Associated Press The CEO of a Dallas facility that provides services to homeless people said 44-year-old Malik Faisal Akram, who was a British citizen, spent the night of Jan. 2 there. Continue reading
Jan 17 After 10-hour hostage ordeal, Texas synagogue receives outpouring of support By Jamie Stengle, Associated Press The tight-knit congregation at a Texas synagogue where four people were held hostage by an armed captor during a 10-hour standoff over the weekend traces its roots back to a gathering organized over 20 years ago by a handful of… Continue reading
Jan 15 Man takes hostages at Texas synagogue By Jake Bleiberg, Associated Press Authorities say a man apparently took hostages Saturday during services at a synagogue near Fort Worth, Texas. The Colleyville Police Department tweeted Saturday afternoon that it was conducting SWAT operations at the address of Congregation Beth Israel. Continue reading
Dec 16 All hostages from U.S. missionary group freed in Haiti, police say By Evens Sanon, Peter Smith, Associated Press The remaining members of a U.S.-based missionary group who were kidnapped two months ago have been freed. Continue reading
Dec 06 Haitian gang releases 3 hostages, says U.S. religious group By Peter Smith, Evens Sanon, Associated Press A religious group based in Ohio has announced that a violent gang in Haiti has released three more hostages, while another 12 remain abducted. Continue reading
Apr 02 U.S. hostage families seek better government support, report says By Eric Tucker, Associated Press Family members of Americans who are imprisoned abroad or held hostage by militant groups say in a new report that the U.S. government must do better in communicating with them. Continue reading
Feb 09 Ex-hostage wants British Islamic State kidnappers put on trial in UK By Danica Kirka, Associated Press LONDON — Former Islamic State hostages and families of the group's victims are urging Britain and the United States to put two recently captured extremists on trial, arguing that denying them justice will fuel the hatred and violence they supported. Continue reading
May 05 Despite advances under Obama, lack of transparency can hinder hostage families By Larisa Epatko When it comes to negotiating hostage releases from terrorist networks, the United States’ “no-concessions” policy puts many decisions in the hands of the families, leaving them wondering what to do. Continue reading
Aug 19 Watch 7:21 Payment to Iran was used as ‘leverage’ for hostage release, admits State Department By PBS News Hour In January, Iran released American hostages in a development coinciding with a U.S. payout of $400 million -- money that had been owed for decades. The Obama administration previously denied a connection between the two events, but on Friday, the… Continue watching
Feb 29 Watch 6:14 Cameroon, Nigeria join forces to free Boko Haram hostages By PBS News Hour Hundreds of hostages held by the Islamic terrorist group Boko Haram were freed over the weekend after a joint raid by Cameroonian and Nigerian forces. The raid followed increased U.S. military efforts to cooperate with regional governments against the jihadist… Continue watching